San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-28

This dnddnte life is too pleasant to
be ended so soon," remarked Fraznliua.
| The count smiled at hrrguaint phrase,
but Carl shiyered inwariy.
| IL.
PAsToRALE.
The excursion TO the mountains PROV
| ed most successful. Even a party con-
sisting of two pairs of lovers and an
| elderly lady may be thoroughly enjoy
] able. If the latter. as the case with Lady
! Castlefort, is willing to sit quietly alone
| while the others stroll about according
\ to their fancy. My lady had vein Of
/ sentiment in her composition, and
| amused herself with fancying that she
was making match between Carl and
! Violetta, when the truth was that their
| relations were far more near than she
| could have fancied. Lady CaStlefOrt had
| conceived strong liking for Violetta,
| and the most naughty patrician could
not have objected to the maiden blood.
The Duke di Mocciri had promised TO
| join the party before heretumed home,
and his name having been introduced
| by Lord Castlefort's announcement of
this as they stood together about sun
set, the duke became the subject of con-
| yerSapiOn.
at is amusing" remarked the count,
"tO hear the stories that are told of the
duke. He is by reputation second
| Cagliostro."
but it is not at all amusing to me-"
Violetta said naively; lit may all be
true. The marquis, my father, knew a
poet who asked the dHke for proof of
his power and the duke made apoem
live"
"Then he is indeed magician"
laughed Castlefort. THAT is more than
most of the poets can do"
You may laugh" returned Violetta,
"but know it was So"
Convincing logic" her lover retoTted.
an what shape did il liver"
No" she said, pOuting, Il am not go
ing to be laughed at. But it is all true"
How beautiful the bay is" FraZslina
observed, turning the conversation.
1t was the Bay of Naples, that gem I
the world. In the distance lay Capri
and Ischia, their outlines in bold relief
against the clear sky. Vesuvius, like
hoaT-headed giant, stood watching the
land of whose beauty he is SO jealous
that when his rage breaks forth he
spares nothing. The evening breeze
just rippled the surface of the water,
and so darkened it under the home
ward-bOund boats. The air over the
land was heavy with the awakening
perfumes of flowers that steal forth at
eyentide; the birds were not yet silent,
though the convent bells sounded from
fsIsr.
AS they stood silent in admiration
they were interrupted by the arrival of
the duke, to whom this was the ap-
pointed rendezvous. He was tall,
gross man of middle age when with such
men the passions are most ardent, with
frmly-set head and unbelievable
eyes.
In the manner of the new conner to-
wards FraZOlina Lord CastlefOTt fan
cied he perceived some faint sign Of pre-
viOus acquaintance, but so slight were
the tokens that he was not himself sure
that they were mere than the creation
of his own fancy. Never before had
FrazOlina been more lovely. Her dark
hair was confined in loose knot at the
back of her shapely head, and shaded,
while it did not conceal, her delicate
temples. a pale red rose was placed
with careless grace above one of her
shell-liKe ears, from which depended
heavy pendants of antique gold. Her
cheeks were family flushed, her eyes
moist and dilated. Her glance was fix
ed upon the count, to whom she related
legend she had that day heard from
the marquis, and, as she spoke, she toy
ed carelessly with the hand of ViOletta,
upon whom she leaned. Her Compan-
ions rounder cOuntenance and figure
formed pleasing foil for FTaZOlina's
oval, intense face. The two were so diff
ferent that it was quite impossible to
compare them, and both gained by the
contrast.
Lady Castlefort engaged the duke in
conversation, and thus it happened that
when the four lovers walked farther on
the elders were left alone. The CONVEX
sation, under the dukes clever guild
ance, soon turned upon FraZOlina; and
Lady CastlefOrt, glad of an opportunity
of pouring out her perpleXities, and not
averse to having duke for cOnfidant,
became very communicative.
'She is charming" her ladyship said,
after detailing at some length the cir
cumstances of FrazOlina's arrival; "and
yet she is odd, dear girl. She never
speaks of her mother, and when / ask
any question relating to her family she
has somehow seemed so troubled and
puzzled that have let the subject drop.
There is some mystery about her. Per-
haps she is not happy with her mother,
and it is so drOll that Lady StOccati has
never written me since her daughters
arrival. But then these Italian mails
are not to be depended upon"
Mile. StOccati seems very happy
here" the dUGe remarked though she
ought to be with your ladyShip."
THANK you, she does seem happy;
and she appears to be warmly attached
to"
A falling insect startled her. so that
she left the sentence unfinished. But
her companion, having seen FTaZOlina
and BrOgni together, could not fail of
understanding the missing name. He
half frOwned, but ended by smiling
siniSterly.
Meanwhile Lord CastlefOrt and Vic
letta had Sauntered along the mountain
side, taking a different path from that
which DuCati and his companion had
chosen.
"Violetta," Lord CastlefOrt said, Fra
ZOlina made the startling assertion this
morning that you were worthy to be the
bride of a prince"
"Then you should acknowledge your
unwOrthiness to claim my favor" re-
tOrted she archly.
"NO doubt" he returned cOOlly, sal
though have not said | agreed with
her But | was about to remark that
she gave me q penetrating glance while
she spoke, as if she was aware of my
10 Dc Coafmavdl